Two thugs who committed a vicious street robbery late at night have each been jailed for five years.

Lithuanians Emundas Palaikas, Igoris Labanovas and Tadas Maximovas were walking home in the early hours of June 23 last year when they saw two men and a woman with a buggy.

The men, Anthony Sweetman and Mark Joy, approached in Ordnance Street, Gravesend, and asked them if they had a phone or money.

Bridget Todd, prosecuting, told Maidstone Crown Court Mr Palaikas handed over his phone and £20 because he was afraid.

They then approached Mr Labanovas, who had a shoulder bag containing £80 and an iPod and Mr Maximovas's wallet, containing his identity card, driving licence and bank cards.

Mr Labanovas was punched to the ground and kicked. Mr Maximovas went to help his friend and was also attacked. His hair was grabbed and his head was repeatedly banged on the ground.

Sweetman, 26, and Joy, 35, returned to Mr Labanovas and grabbed his bag, before making off.

"All three were extremely shaken and frightened about what happened," said Miss Todd.

Sweetman, of Waterdales, Northfleet, and Joy, of Hornchurch, Essex, denied robbing Mr Palaikis and Mr Labanovas.

Sweetman was convicted of both charges and Joy was convicted of robbing Mr Palaikis and cleared of robbing Mr Labanovas.

Sweetman admitted assaulting Mr Maximovas causing actual bodily harm. Joy denied the offence but was convicted.

Judge David Caddick said considerable force was used in the robberies and injuries were caused. Sweetman and Joy were fuelled by drink and acted out of greed.

"I accept it was unplanned in the sense it was opportunistic crime," said the judge.

He added there was little to choose between Sweetman, who has a previous conviction for robbery, and father-of-two Joy, who has 62 previous offences on his record.